Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-08-11
THEREJECTED MANUSCRIPT.

THE REJECTED MANUSCRIPT.
.yew York, II. Y, November 7, 1888.
naar Madam: We regret that the manu-
script has not been found ayaiiaole ior the
80 many considerations enter into the
ouestion OF availability, sucn as the pre-
yious ac~ceptance OF somewhat similar ma
terial, or a superabundance OF Inss.oi az
band or unftness on account oil the eai,
tors present plans, that the return o.
sonr manuscript does not imply thai ~
was thought defcientfrom a literary point
OF view.
very truly yours,
Blanche Raymond read the letter
through several times, and then with
a little sigh took up the poor, rejected
manuscript, "Not available, she muir
INJURED, glancing over the carefully,w writ
ten naoes. mot deficient from a liter
arv noint of view" "Well, they are
at least courteous; / sho uldn't Won
| der. though, If they meant that last
remark as balm OF my injured feel
ings. i am told that editors are so
deceitfiil." .;ol
With these thoughts of editoria
perfidy ranking in her bosom, bianc'0
relapsed into silence.
She compressed her lips until the
| dimple in her chin was scarcely visible,
and q very preceptible frown darken-
| ed her usually serene brow.
It was evident that something i'm
portant was being evolved from her
| busy brain, for the frown deepened
tin the gray eyes looked almost
| black beneath the long lashes.
Suddenly she arose from the low
rocker in which she had been sitting.
saving with a merry twinkle in her
ewes which effectually dispelled the
| frown, an do i'll it will be a great
| lark, and / will at least get another
opinion OF my poor papers literary
merit or availability"
"A great lark strangely improper
language for an aspiring author.
"Where are you going, dear?" asked
Mrs. RAYMOND, as Blanche, after a
carefully prepared toilet, descended
to the sitting-room where her mother
sat sewing.
"Well, mamma, you know told
| you that the H-Magazine had re-
turned my manuscript. ! happen to
think OF the D--Magazine, OF
our own city here, which has
not been long established, but ia last
gaining IN popularity. The dazzling
idea has occurred to me to take my
story there, instead of sending it out
| alone. Perhaps can make an inn
preston if my story can't" laughed
the little miss, casting a sly glance at
the bright, sweet face rejecting in the
mirror opposite.
"But my dear, is that the proper
thing to do? 1 don't like to have you
90 alone to one of these places" said
the old lady, evidently regarding ION
OF these places as something uncan.
ny.
"Why mamma, there is no harm in
it at all. 1t is purely a matter OF
business. The editor is probably a
baldheaded specialized ogre, who will
wilt me with one CLASSY stare. But
Pm going to get him to accept my
story before / wilt, even if / collapse
Immediately afterwards" said this
very determined young lady, who had
not learned that saddest word in
youths brights lexicon. .faill"
"Well, hurry back, for / shall be
very anxious till you return"
With a kiss and q smiling good-by,
Blanche tripped from the room with
a heart not quite as light as when she
first thought of her venture, but she
would not own it, even to herself.
Our heroine was a little more than
q child, although the suns of nineteen
summers had darkened the ones flax
en- curls. The youngest child and
only girl of five children, she was of
course greatly petted and caressed.
A girl of a less sweet, even disposition
might have shown the effects of such
a training in imperious matters and
pettish exactIons, but Blanche, with
out special effort, had escaped these
evils. Living her happy life, sur
rounded with by home love and COM
forts, she had not given herself up en-
tirely to pleasure, but had Iabored
diligently to improve a naturally
bright mind, trying to make the jewel
worthy of its fair setting.
The cable-car sped along the frosty
track, bearing Blanche nearer and
nearer her destination. Her ardor
was cooling rapidly. With all her
bravery she began to feel that facing
the lion in his den was not such a
pleasant matter. However, she was
not q girl to give up a venture when
once fairly begun, 10 she tried not to
ieei nervous, but to compose her
thoughts into q neat little speech for
the edification of the ''spectacled
Ogre
Finally she stood before the dread
portal, and the shaky knock she gave
told as plainly as any words the cor
responding condition of her THOUGHTS.
Come in!' called a musical voice,
bu she didn't ''come," With the ad-
mirabie caution of her sex,
she resolved that the alion"
should meet her at least hall way.
She knocked a second time, a little
ioudes than before. After a brief
pause-an awful pause to Blanche
the door a thrown wide open by a
.oaidheaded. specialized ogre? No,
indeedl by a tall, slender man of per.
maps twenty-seven years, with brown
curling hair and mustache, and mirth.
Iul brown eyes.
"Ohi ahl viii You comein?" said the
young man, with a little embarrass-
ment in his voice.
Blanche entered andtook the polite.
lx-proffered chair without a word.
Inc neat little speech" was forgotten
I'm TACT she seemed to have lost all
speech IN her complete surprise.
did you wish to see me?h came the
pleasant tones of the young man, aft.
er a moment of dreadful silence.
"fes-that is, i wish to see the edi.
Tor OF the D--Magizine," faltered
Piled.
Blanche EAST oneswift glance at him
and then slowly drew from hes muf
she precious manuscript. An amused
smile played about the editors hand.
some mouth, and his eyes assumed the
usmistakable II told you so" expires.
i have written a little story. and 7
perhaps-it would be wise IL
- want to get it printed" and an
muff. ""e iie''e
certainly! may ] see it?" She gave
II TO him without looking mn her
thoughts IN a tumult as To 1wbat
mamma would think" To 900 bar Iii.
M 70 TINS handsome man, whose ad.
nirlng brown eyes were harder 10 meet
.nan the CLASSY stareshe had antieinas
editor unfolded the paper and